Drill pipe protector apparatus



April 6, 1954 A. l.. sToNE DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheetl Original Filed Nov. 12. 1948 m TMO 5 T IlfllIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllIII/flllflrlllllll/ ,418527 L S70/VE I April 6,1954v A. l.. STONE DRTLL RIPE PROTECTOR APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2wf/vm? maier L sra/vf YlI/WI Original Filed Nov. 12, 17.948

Patented Apr. 6, 1954 DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR APPARATUS Albert L. Stone,:Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., as-

signor to Byron IJackson Co., Vernon, Calif., a

corporation of Delaware Division of application Serial No.

99,074, June 14,

1949. Continuation of application Serial No.

59,567, November 1 March 6, 1952, Seri 2, 1948. This application al No.275,136

8 Claims. (Cl. 2Q-236) This .invention relates to apparatus forinstalling drill pipe protectors and particularly toapparatusfor forcingprotectors 01T of transfer sleeves and onto drill pipes.

It is common practice in the rotary well driilingy art, wherein there`always exists the problem .of wear on the drill pipe and on the metalwall of the casinginstalled in the Well, to pro vide .on said -drilllpipe at proper intervals resilient protectors, usually composed ofrubber or rubber compound. In order that such protectors, which comprisecylinders about the pipe, may tightly grip said pipe to avoid slippage,the protectors are molded with their internal diam'- eters smaller thanthe external diameterv of the pipe, there thus being a requirement thatthe protectors be stretched to permit their being slipped over the pipe.

As it` is generally unfeasible to' directly stretch and apply theprotector to the pipe Without' intermediate transfer means, commonpracticel in the art is to rst stretch the protector and slip same overa cylindrical metal sleeve having an inside diameter slightly largerthan the outside diameter of the drill pipe and to then remove theprotector directly from said cylindrical sleeve to the drill pipe. Suchcylindrical sleeve transfer'means'are commonly known as transfersleeves, and it is with mechanism for removing the protector from thetransfer sleeve to the drill pipe that the present invention isconcerned.

Several devices have heretofore been used for this purpose comprising,among others, mechane ical screw-jack meansl adapted topush the pro'ntector from the transfer sleeve onto the` drill pipe by thev abutment ofpressure rings and the' like. However, the difficulty with this andsimi-- means comprisev lar expedients is that such heavy, unwieldlyarticles. Since frequently a string composed' of many stands of drillpipe must be fitted with protectors adjacent each tool joint, and sincethis' entails a lifting of each pro-A tector bearing transfer sleeves. aplacing of same: over the drill pipe, al removal of the protectorv tothe drill pipe, and a removal of thetransfersleeve from the' drill pipe,any excessive additional Weight which must be applie'dvto the transfersleeve and used to remove thel protector therefrom' causes considerableloss of time, increased` labor expense, and is productive of accident.Additionally, expedients prior to the present invention, such as themeans outlined above, are slow to act and difcult to operate. and priordevices have not been suitable 'for use with the different sizedtransfer sleeves necessitated by different sized drill pipe, beingrather limited to a single size transfer sleeve.

It is the principal object of this rinvention to provide means forremoving protectors from the transfer sleeve onto the drill pipe, whichmeans is light, easy to handle but yet positive `in its operation.

' Another ofthe objects of this invention is to provide such protectorapparatus which is not u only light, but of such construction and havingsuch operational advantages as tobe handy, fast operating, and absentthe necessity of a number of adjustments and hand operations by theoperator once the apparatus has been aiixed to the transfer sleeve, itbeing a particular feature of the apparatus contemplated by the presentinvention that said apparatus is actuable by the operator in simple andquick manner to promptly remove the protector from the transfer sleeve,andv thus save time at a critical point in the cycle of protectorapplication, i. e., when the transfer sleeve and associated mechanism issuspended about the drill pipe immediately preparatory to removal of theprotector onto the said drill pipe.

Another object of' this invention is to provide suchV protectorapparatus operable with different sized transfer sleeves so that it isun# necessary to change the protector apparatus to another size toaccommodate a changed size of transfer sleeve applicable to a changedsize of drill pipe.

A further object ofthis invention is to provide protector apparatus'not` only light and handy ofV use, but compact whereby to minimizepossible interference between said apparatus and elements associatedwith the drill pipe, such Vasl tool joints and thelike.

Yetanother object of this invention is to provide in the aforesaidapparatus a combinationy of' elements operable to perform thekabove-described functions, but, whilst doing this, operable' to avoiddamage to -said elements associated with the drill pipe.

Stihl-another object ofl thisinvention is to proasv/roei vide saidapparatus easily controllable with respect to the protector immediatelypreceding and during its removal from the transfer sleeve, saidprotector necessarily being of high strength and therefore requiringconsiderable pressures and forces in removal from the transfer sleeveonto the drill pipe. i And another object of the invention is to providemeans on said apparatus to facilitate its eastT and quick removal fromthe transfer sleeve after the aforesaid operations.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of an apparatus incorporating thepresentV invention affixed to the transfer sleeve and in position toexert pressure on a protector to remove same from said transfer sleeveontothe drill pipe.

Figure 2 shows a similar enlarged view of said:

apparatus midway in its protector-removing operation.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of said apparatusshown in the position assumed in Figure l.

Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the apparatusin the operative position shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a partial top plan view of said apparatus.

Figure '1 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken on theline 1-1 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures l and 2, thegeneral assembly of the apparatus consists of a source of iiuid pressure26 which may be operated by a foot pedal 22 to deliver fluid through aconduit 24 to a head 26 to force outwardly a cylinder 28 mountedslidably on a stationary plunger 36. Integral with the head 26 is aretaining arm 32 which is adapted to grasp an upper lip 34 of thetransfer sleeve 36, and carried by the cylinder 28 is aprotectorengaging arm 38 adapted, as shown in Figure 2, to force theprotector 40 from the said transfer sleeve 36 to the drill pipe 42 uponthe application of fluid pressure.

More particularly, the stationary plunger 30 is threadedly secured tothe head 26 into which leads the conduit 24. Said stationary plunger 36is hollow and open at both ends and forms a continuous passage with thebore 44 in the head 26.-

Slidable on the plunger and splined thereto through a threaded pin 46and slot 48 is the said cylinder 28, the outer end of said plunger 3Dbeing sealed to the inner Wall of the cylinder 28 by an O-ring 50. Acylinder head or plug 52 closes the outer end of said cylinder 28 and isheld in place by a snap ring 54 and sealed by an O- ring 56, thusproviding a reactive surface to enable the fluid pressure uponapplication to slide the said cylinder 28 outwardly on the plunger 30.It will be noted that a check valve 58 is provided associated with thecylinder head -52 to permit bleeding of entrapped air from the cylinderwhen desired, which comprises a bore 66, a bored plug 62 threadablyreceived in the cylinder head 52, and a spring-loaded ball 64 withinsaid plug adapted to be removed from its seat by the insertion of asuitable tool.

Integral with the head 26 of the apparatus and extendingtransverselytherefrom is provided the arm 32 which includes a hooked or dependingportion 66 having a shoulder 68 adapted to cooperate with the lip 34 ofthe transfer sleeve 36. In order to hold the said arm 32 secured to thetransfer sleeve, there is provided a bore 18 in the said arm 32connecting with decreased diameter to the bore 44 in the head 26 andreceiving slidably a plunger 12. rEhe plunger 12 is hollow and isprovided with a compression spring 14 which abuts at one end againstIsaid plunger and at the other end against a piston 16 slidable in thebore 18 and seatable on the shoulder 18 thereof. Thus, where fluidpressure islaCking, the plunger 12 is spring-urged against the transfersleeve 36, but upon the admission of fluid pressure into the bore 44,the hollow plunger 30 and the bore 18, the plunger 12 clamps the arm 32hard about the transfer sleeve 36 to prevent relative movement betweenthe said plunger 30 and transfer sleeve 36.

Adjustably affixed to the cylinder 28 which, as aforesaid, is slidableoutwardly on the plunger 30 in response to fluid pressure, is the singleprojecting arm 3B, said arm including a hub portion 86 bored to receivethe cylinder 28, split at 82 and provided with a clamping bolt 84. Theprotector-engaging arm 38 has a 11u86 adapted to insert under the edgeof the protectorv- 4D and thus assure positive coaction betweenl The arm38.

said protector and said arm 38. also is provided with a pair ofspring-urged plungers 88 and 90 and 94, respectively,

of the cylinder 28 and plunger 30 parallelwitli that of the transfersleeve 36 and providing a secondary protector-engaging means toaccomkeys 96 and 98 engageable in slots |08 and V|02 in the saidplunger.

In the operation of removing a protector 40. from a transfer sleeve 36onto a pipe 42, .thet said transfer sleeve is ordinarily first placed'labout said pipe preferably somewhat adjacent.

a tool joint. The aforedescribed apparatus is then brought up to thetransfer sleeve and theV hooked portion 66 of the arm 32 hooked aboutthe` lip 34 of said transfer Sleeve, the. plunger 12. abuttingresiliently against the transfer sleeve'. and aiding in holding theapparatus .in its posi-' tion with respect to the transfer sleeve. InthisA position of the apparatus, the protector-engaging arm 38 abuts theside of the transfer sleeve 36,

and the plungers 88 and 98 assist in aligning the apparatus. Since thereare ordinarily a number'4 of protector-bearing transfer sleeves fromwhich the protectors must be removed onto the drillpipe, it will beunderstood that the herein-described operation constitutes a continuouscycle,j and ordinarily it will be found that each batch of.lprotector-bearing transfer sleeves will have theirv protectors mountedin approximately the same place with respect to the upper lip 34 ofsaid` Occasionally, however, as withV the introduction of a new batch ofprotector: bearing transfer sleeves, it will be found that .the`protectors are in different positions, and since it is desirable thatbefore the application of'fluidpressure the lip 86 of the arm 38 becloselyvadja-I' cent or touching the protector, the .bolt84-njlay-,l

transfer sleeve.

be loosened to slide the said arm 38 on the cylinmounted in the bores`92` whereby to abut against the. side of the transfer sleeve,maintaining vthe axes sistemas.

der Mato its proper position, `:as shown in `Figui-es Ll=and13,preparatory tothe .application bf 'fini pressure. I

Proper positioning fof the iapparatus *having been accomplished, the.operatoripresses'upon the foot .pedal ..22 admitting illuid pressureinto the bores #44 and 'lll and `into the hollow plunger 30. Theiluid'zpressure .accomplishes two things: lfirst, clamping the plunger.1.2 hard against the vtransfer sleeve 3B, wherebyrelative movementbetween the .plunger 30A andtransfer sleeve V36 :is made impossible; andsecond, sliding outwardly the cylinder 28 upon the plunger 30. Since thecylinder 28 carries the arm 38, the said arm 38 forces the protectoroutwardly on the transfer sleeve until the elasticity of the protectormaterial snaps said protector over the end of the transfer sleeve andonto the drill pipe, it having been found in the operation of thisdevice that abutment of the single arm 38 is sufficient to remove theprotector. Immediately upon such removal of the protector onto the drillpipe, the operator releases the foot pedal 22, releasing the fluidpressure. The lip 86 of the arm 38 being free of the protector, andsince no fluid pressure exists on the piston head 16, the entireapparatus may be pivotecl around the lip 34 of the transfer sleeve andremoved.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that thecircumferential extent of application of axial force to the protector isccnined to a minor segmental portion of the protector. It is only byreason of my conception of the idea of thus conning the application offorce to the protector, that it became possible to provide thelight-weight, easily manipulable, and fast-operating device describedhereinabove.

This application is a divsion of application Serial Number 99,074, ledJune 14, 1949, and a continuation of application Serial Number 59,567,filed November 12, 1948, now abandoned.

While there has been described what is at present considered a preferredembodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be madewithout departing from the essence of the invention, and it is intendedto cover herein all such modifications and changes as come within thetrue scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forcing an elastic drill pipe protector axially olf atransfer sleeve and onto a p'pe encompassed thereby, comprising:extensible force-applying means having relatively rectilinearly movablemembers, anchor means carried by one of said members, pusher meanscarried by the other of said members, said anchor means and pusher meansextending in the same direction laterally of the direction of relativemovement of said members, said anchor means having a relatively smallabutment surface adjacent the outer end thereof releasably engageablewith a cooperating abutment surface on the transfer sleeve, said pushermeans having a relatively small surface adjacent the outer end thereofengageable with an end portion of said protector, said anchor and pushermeans being substantially in alignment in the direction of relativemovement of said members whereby said apparatus may be engaged with ordisengaged from said sleeve and protector from one side and entirelywithin a narrow sector thereof.

2. An apparatus as dened in claim 1 Wherein said members comprise,respectively, a cylinder' and 'fa lpiston therein relatively zmovafbleinprotector-pushing ydirection `upon :application of fluid pressurethereto.

43. Apparatus as denedinclaim 1 vwhereinlfsaid pusher means .hasapor-tion adapted to be disposed in laterally interlocking relation. tosaid protectorfto restrain :said pusher means against laterally outward'movement relative to said ,protector.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pusher .means has asubstantially wedge-shaped portion adapted to tbe Vforced ,between.fsaid transfer sleeve and a portion of said protector to restrain 'saidpusher memberagainst laterallyput- Ward'movem'entl relative to said"protector 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein saidforce-applying means includes means operable to maintain said anchormember and said pusher member substantially in alignment.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including restraining means on saidpusher means adapted to engage said protector to prevent outwardmovement of said pusher means relative to said transfer sleeve, saidpusher means also having a surface thereon slidably engageable with theouter surface of said transfer sleeve and cooperating with saidrestraining means to maintain the direction of said rectilinear movementsubstantially parallel to said sleeve.

7. Apparatus for forcing an elastic drill pipe protector axially off atransfer sleeve and onto a pipe encompassed thereby, comprising:extensible force-applying means having relatively rectilinearly movablemembers, anchor means carried by one of said members, pusher meanscarried by the other of said members, said anchor means and pusher meansextending in the same direction laterally of the direction of relativemovement of said members, said anchor means having a relatively smallabutment surface adjacent the outer end thereof releasably engageablewith a cooperating abutment surface on the transfer sleeve, said pushermeans having a relatively small surface adjacent the outer end thereofengageable with an end portion of said protector, said anchor and pushermeans being substantially in alignment in the direction of relativemovement of said members whereby said apparatus may be engaged with ordisengaged from said sleeve and protector from one side and entirelywithin a narrow sector thereof, said forceapplying means comprising apiston connected to said anchor means and a cylinder enclosing saidpiston, said pusher means being adjustably mounted on said cylinder foradjustment therealong in an axial direction.

8. Apparatus for forcing an elastic drill pipe protector axially off atransfer sleeve and onto a pipe encompassed thereby, said apparatusbeing portable and being engageable with and removable from said sleeveentirely from one side thereon, comprising: extensible force-applyingmeans having relatively rectilinearly movable members, anchor meanscarried by one of said members, pusher means carried by the other ofsaid members, said anchor means and pusher means extending in the samedirection laterally of the direction of relative movement of saidmembers, said anchor means having an abutment surface adjacent the outerend thereof releasably engageable with a cooperating abutment surface onthe transfer sleeve, said pusher means having a surface adjacent theouter end thereof engageable with an end portion of said protector, saidanchor and pusher means being substantially in alignment in thedirection of relative movement of said members whereby said apparatusmay be engaged with or disengaged from said sleeve and protector fromone side, said force-applying means comprising a piston connected tosaid anchor means and a cylinder enclosing said piston, said pushermeans being adjustably mounted on said cylinder for adjustmenttherealong in an axial direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber 8 Name Date Cole Dec. 6, 1932 Maca Sept. 17, 1935 Countryman Nov.1, 1938 Pfauser July 11, 1939 Barnes et a1 Aug. 19, 1941 Bradley Nov.25, 1941 Barnes et al. Sept. 7, 1943 Ballagh Oct. 21, 1947 Hincks May 2,1950 Skilling Apr. 3, 1951

